VIDEO PRODUCTION/FILM MAKING (Grades 9-12)
This is a Certificate Course.
You will be awarded a Video Production/Film Making 'certificate of program completion' after obtaining a grade of 80% or higher.

SECTION I:   This series offers the novice director a set of specific techniques for developing the fundamental elements of this craft in realizing a screenplay for the screen, along with an introduction to the narrative/dramatic elements of film. A cornerstone of this methodology is the assumption that the blueprint of a film, the screenplay, informs everything the director does. The student should discover how to unlock the dramatic potential in the screenplay by careful reading and analysis. A short screenplay is provided to take you step by step through the detective work necessary to uncover the strengths and weaknesses in the script and the psychology of the characters, and to break down the actions they perform in pursuit of their goals. This investigation leads to an overall design for rendering the film, as well as identifying the essence of each moment that must be conveyed to an audience. In subsequent chapters the methodology applies the knowledge gained in the detective work to the staging of actors for the camera, and use of the camera as an active narrator. The use of floorplans and storyboards to aid in the pre-visualization of a film is stressed. It features a scene-by-scene analysis of three feature films by master directors, to be used in conjunction with the viewing of the films on video. This should enable the aspiring director to see how the conceptual investigation is rendered on the screen. In addition, seven films that are readily available on video are analyzed for the use of a distinctive style in the rendering of a story. An appendix is included, containing the grammatical rules for the film language, as well as an explanation of the cinematic categories of time and space and how they can be used to maximise the effect of any story on an audience.

SECTION II:   This series tackles specific problems of staging cinematic scenes. How should directors shoot scenes in confined spaces, such as small rooms or the interior of a car, in large open spaces, or with a number of characters involved in busy dialogue? It also addresses these problems by storyboarding hypothetical scenes for the camera, laying out a drawing of each shot in the sequence for students to study. As a bonus, this series is peppered with interviews about creating shot sequences.  The series opens up a director's view of the world of cinematic movement & how it relates to good story-telling through film. Staging scenes, blocking, camera movement, choreography of scene movent, reverse shots, camera angles, tracking, exterior & interior shooting, staging multiple characters in a scene...it's all here, with drawings that clearly illustrate the informative text.

SECTION III:   This series is a good introduction to the rudiments of film production. Students walk through the various stages of moviemaking, advising them at every turn to visualize the films they wish to produce. One of the chief tasks of filmmaking is to negotiate between our three-dimensional reality and the two-dimensionality of the screen. It covers the number of technical options filmmakers can use to create a satisfying flow of shots, a continuity that will make sense to viewers and aptly tell the film's story. It also provides in-depth coverage of production design, storyboarding, spatial connections, editing, scene staging, depth of frame, camera angles, point of view, and the various types of stable compositions and moving camera shots.

SECTION IV:   Demystifies the creative process and makes filmmaking techniques accessible to complete beginners. This series assumes no background knowledge in either technology or filmmaking. Projects lead you step by step through each process, enabling you to understand not just the technique, but stylistic approaches for innovative filmmaking. The subject is split into four key areas: * Development: Focus is placed on format and equipment. Develop an idea into a workable script, storyboard and schedule. Projects also lead you through the conversion of ideas to images and looks at basic ways of sequencing images. * Production: Develop your skills to shoot original short films. It covers a range of approaches showing what can be achieved with a simple camcorder. * Post-Production: Covers basic editing techniques to structure and enhance the original idea. There are references to iMovie, Premiere and Director. Free tryout software is included on the accompanying CD-ROM. * Distribution: How to set up a broadcast web site, using the internet to promote your film, what streaming software does and how it works, getting funding for your production.

SECTION V:   This series offers practical tips on how to make a movie without wasting money. It suggests saving money by shooting titles on series section, renting film equipment at special weekend rates and building your own editing bench in your home. This is the kind of practical information that an apprentice would learn on a movie set. For example, the chapter on lighting explains ways to light a scene and what kind of lighting equipment to use. It suggests adding up the cost of different lighting ideas and the difficulty and time involved before proceeding, and then describes the lighting used in several of the feature films. Even simple housekeeping tricks can save money, and this book includes an array of checklists, sample budgets and contracts. It shows aspiring filmmakers step-by-step how to create a feature film for the price of a used car. Featuring extensive new material on using digital video technology and making the most of Internet resources, it's practical, no-nonsense handbook reveals the insider secrets to:
*Selecting and writing a story that can be produced on a tight budget
*Rallying a filmmaking team through creative contracts
*Shooting and editing with an original style
*Marketing the finished film and dealing with agents
*Making a collaborative feature




CAREER KIT PRICE: CERTIFIED VIDEO PRODUCTION/FILM MAKING COURSE  $345.00  (INCLUDES SHIPPING)
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